Lacrosse Stache Madness Breaks $101,000 for HEADstrong Foundation

Holmes, PA - Mustaches of all shapes, sizes and styles were popping up all over the place this fall as over 422 players from around the world participated in the 4th installment of Lacrosse Mustache Madness. The 6 week seasonal competition successfully set a fundraising record generating an incredible $101,302 in support of the HEADstrong Foundation and their commitment to improving the quality of life for patients and families battling blood cancers.

Campaign organizers Ken Clausen, Rebecca Vozzo and Pat Colleluori along with sponsors Warrior, Inside Lacrosse and Lacrosse.com and product partners Lacrossewear, Sock Guy and Stylin Strings are thrilled to announce that Lacrosse Mustache Madness has successfully generated over $300,000 since its inception in 2009.

This year's campaign saw record numbers due to the outstanding efforts of many, especially two very competitive fundraisers from Syracuse Lacrosse. Together, Matthew Walters and Ben Kaminow raised over $24,000. In the end it was Mathew Walters claiming victory of this year’s competition by single-handedly raising $13,176 to capture the coveted Stache Crown. In a heated competition that went down to the final minutes, two-time defending champion Ben Kaminow could not surpass Walters’ lead but managed to raise a head-turning $11,557. Coming in third place was Darren McGowan of St. Paul Falcon Lax who raised $29,50.

Over 113 teams participated with Syracuse Lacrosse leading the way collectively raising $30,308. The 17 members making up the Syracuse fundraising team will receive New HEADstrong Backpacks from Scout by Bungalow. Harvard Lacrosse came is second with $6,979 and Friends of Virginia Lacrosse finished third with $6,221.
This year, the spirit of Lacrosse Mustache Madness was embraced by the Uganda National Lacrosse Team. Their proceeds have been allocated to stay in Uganda and be used to provide nourishment to cancer patients via Fields of Growth, an organization that is collaborating with HEADstrong to provide comfort kits to patients dealing with blood cancers in the impoverished country. Even students at Sutherland Middle School in Albemarle County,VA where Clausen volunteered as a student at the University of Virginia, held a corn-hole tournament to support the fundraiser raising over $1,650. In addition, the University of Tampa coordinated a t-shirt fundraiser to assist their effort raising over $2,700.
With just a few hours left in the competition Ken Clausen received a $1,550 matching contribution from Chad Watson, President of Great Atlantic Lacrosse, which helped break the $100,000 mark.

"We cannot thank the lacrosse community enough for their support in 2012. It is so inspiring so see the progress that we have made over the years. Lacrosse Mustache Madness continued to extend its sphere of influence by becoming a worldwide lacrosse initiative with the registration of Uganda Lacrosse. To think that after just in four years that we have raised over $300,000 and has become an intercontinental event is absolutely amazing. This is truly a credit to the HEADstrong Foundation and their commitment to being "Relentless" in all of their endeavors. We hope that Lacrosse Mustache Madness will remain as a staple in the lacrosse community for years to come and that together we can win the fight against Leukemia and blood cancers." says Campaign Founder Ken Clausen.

“$101,000, what an amazing accomplishment. We are honestly very taken back by everyone's commitment to fundraising over the past six weeks. We are thrilled to see so many people from around the game growing mustaches and uniting in support of our fight against blood cancers. The proceeds will be instrumental in helping us to support Nick's House™, the Nicholas E. Colleluori Lymphoma Research Fund and allow us the ability to strengthen our commitment to providing quality of life services to patients and families dealing with blood cancers. We wish to sincerely thank Ken Clausen, Rebecca Vozzo, our sponsors, partners and all of those who participated this year. We cannot do this without you and we are so humbled by everyone's hard work. Your commitment to our cause is incredible." Cheryl Colleluori, HEADstrong President and Nick's Mom.